Intraventricular Hemorrhage after Carotid Stenting

Concomitant Reversible Cerebral Vasoconstriction and Hyperperfusion Syndromes Following Carotid Endarterectomy

Cerebral hyperperfusion syndrome (CHS) and reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome (RCVS) are two syndromes characterized by disordered vascular autoregulatory mechanisms of brain. These may be seen after carotid endarterectomy (CEA). We present a patient who developed both syndromes after CEA which is a rare occurrence.

Intraprocedural detection of cerebral hyperperfusion by flat detector computed tomography in the evaluation of cerebral blood volume during carotid artery stenting. A case report

Cerebral blood volume (CBV) can be measured using a C-arm flat detector angiographic system. The present report describes a case in which cerebral hyperperfusion was detected with the Neuro parenchymal blood volume (PBV) system (syngo Neuro PBV IR, Siemens Medical Solutions, Erlangen, Germany) during carotid artery stenting (CAS). An 89-year-old man was referred to our hospital for cerebral brain infarction and severe stenosis of the left carotid artery. CAS was performed, and Neuro PBV was used to measure CBV both during and after the procedure. Postoperative Neuro PBV revealed dramatically increased CBV, and a hyperperfusion state was suspected. The next day, subarachnoid hemorrhage along the sulcus of the left hemisphere was revealed on computed tomography. Strict management of blood pressure was instituted just after the detection of hyperperfusion, and the patient was ultimately discharged from the hospital without any new neurological deficits. Neuro PBV has the advantage that it can be performed in the angiography suite and does not require patient transfer to an alternate setting. Therefore, intracranial hemodynamic changes can be detected during the procedure. We conclude that the Neuro PBV system is useful for monitoring intracranial hemodynamics during endovascular procedures.

Treatment and outcome of intracranial hemorrhage after carotid artery stenting. A ten year single center experience

SUMMARY

Intracranial hemorrhage following carotid artery stenting (CAS) is a rare but potentially devastating complication. The present study reviewed intracranial hemorrhage cases from patients undergoing CAS in ten years to find the methods to rescue patients from this fatal complication. Patients with postoperative intracranial hemorrhage following CAS were retrospectively selected, and clinical features, treatments and outcomes were studied. Ten patients with intracranial hemorrhage were identified. The mean onset time of hemorrhage was 6.1-/+7.1h. Intracerebral hemorrhage occurred in eight patients and SAH in two patients. The patients were treated by stopping anti-platelet and anticoagulant for at least three days, and surgical drainage of the hematoma/ventricle drainage or conservative treatment. Six patients survived, two had left moderate paralysis, four had a good recovery at four week follow-up, and four patients died. No patients underwent thrombosis in stent after withdrawing of antiplatelet and anticoagulant. Intracranial hemorrhage after CAS occurs usually in a few hours and leads to catastrophic results. Once patients have intracranial hemorrhage, good neurocritical care may help to save them. Stopping antiplatelet and anticoagulant for at least three days may avoid thrombosis in the stenting site.

Intracranial Hemorrhage After Carotid Angioplasty:A Pooled Analysis

PURPOSE

To use a pooled analysis of the literature to find the incidence of and characteristics common to intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) associated with carotid artery stenting (CAS).

METHODS

A search of the English-language literature (1996-2005) was performed in PubMed to find cases of CAS-associated ICH. Information was derived from the identified case studies in 5 categories and 19 aspects: (1) incidence of CAS-associated ICH; (2) demographic data (sex, age, symptom presentation, and presence of preexisting hypertension); (3) imaging data (side of lesion, degree of maximal stenosis, lesion location, status of the contralateral carotid artery, collateral circulation, and preprocedural imaging features); 4) procedure-related characteristics (antithrombotic medication, use of cerebral protection devices, residual stenosis, symptoms, interval from the procedure to ICH, type of ICH, and blood pressure changes); and (5) clinical outcome.

RESULTS

Fifty-four cases of CAS-associated ICH were reviewed: 51 cases from 36 published articles and our own 3 cases. The incidence of CAS-associated ICH was 0.63% (95% CI 0.38% to 0.97%) in studies consisting of >100 cases, which was significantly lower (p<0.0001) than that of case series consisting of <100 cases (2.69%, 95% CI 1.75% to 3.94%). Distinctive features included symptomatic lesions, severe stenosis (> or =90%), maximal stenosis in the internal carotid artery (ICA) distal to the bifurcation, and preexisting cerebral infarction.

CONCLUSION

The incidence of CAS-associated ICH was significantly lower in series consisting of >100 cases. More caution should be directed toward patients with symptomatic lesions, severe stenosis, maximal ICA stenosis distal to the carotid bifurcation, and preexisting cerebral infarction.